The couple reportedly ended their relationship earlier this month, and Zayn confirmed it Tuesday … saying, “Gigi and I had an incredibly meaningful, loving and fun relationship and I have a huge amount of respect and adoration for Gigi as a woman and a friend.”

They’d been on a brief break, just for a few days, in 2016 — and Zayn addressed the fact this split had made it to the rumor mill, saying, “We wish this news could have come from us first. We love you all.”